Reid Richmond, spokesman for Richland Public Health, said this year through Jan. 19, Richland Public Health has received notification of 54 influenza hospitalizations in the county, including one child. So far this month, 133 influenza cases have been reported in the county. Of those, two are infants.

Last year, health department statistics show 23 hospitalizations for the month of January locally, Richmond said.

For all of 2017 through November, 794 cases of the flu virus had been reported in Richland County, including influenza case A and influenza case B, with 85 hospitalizations. In December, 105 cases of influenza A and 68 cases of influenza B were reported.

There were 38 hospitalizations in December in Richland County, all adults who stayed two to three days, he said.

"We've had no deaths" here, he said.

In a conference call on Wednesday, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) reported there have been three pediatric flu deaths through Jan. 16 in the state, Richmond said.

ODH also reported 1,750 new confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations in Ohio during the first week of January, a significant increase over 925 reported during the last week of December. There have been 3,854 total flu-associated hospitalizations in Ohio since flu season began last October, according to a news release from ODH.

The 2017-18 flu season in Ohio and nationally is looking similar to what was seen during the 2014-15 flu season which at the time was the most severe flu season in recent years, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provided by ODH. The CDC said that flu activity in the U.S. increased sharply during the first week of January, and is now categorized as widespread in 46 states. Flu activity traditionally begins to increase in October and can last as late as May, with cases typically peaking between December and February.

“Flu is difficult to predict,” ODH Medical Director Dr. Clint Koenig said in the news release. “It’s not possible to say precisely when this flu season will peak or end or how severe it will be. That’s why getting the flu vaccination is the safest and most effective way to prevent the flu for everyone 6 months and older. Flu vaccination also can reduce the severity of illness if you do get sick.”

Flu vaccination prevents millions of illnesses and tens of thousands of flu-related hospitalizations each year. While the flu vaccine can vary in how well it works, people who still get sick may have milder symptoms.

So far, influenza A (H3N2) viruses have been the most common flu viruses circulating this season, according to CDC statistics. H3N2-predominant flu seasons have been associated with more severe illness, especially among children and adults age 65 and older. Vaccine effectiveness against H3N2 viruses has been around 30 percent. Vaccine effectiveness against other circulating flu viruses has been about 60 percent for H1N1 viruses, and around 50 percent for influenza B viruses. A study also done on flu vaccination said that it can significantly reduce a child’s risk of dying from influenza.
Symptoms of flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

Flu vaccination is available at most healthcare providers’ offices, local health departments and retail pharmacies. There are no flu vaccine shortages across Ohio.

Other effective ways to avoid getting or spreading the flu include washing hands frequently or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer; covering coughs and sneezes with tissues, or coughing or sneezing into elbows; avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth; and staying home when sick, according to the state health department.

Richmond said flu shots are available at the Richland Public Health Clinic either on a walk-in basis or by appointment by calling 419-774-4700.

Cost is $33 if paying by cash. The clinic bills insurance companies and accepts Medicaid and Medicare and credit cards.

Richmond said anyone who is showing symptoms of the flu should avoid visiting nursing homes or maternity wards.